Marsh helleborine
Epipactis palustris
Family: Orchidaceae
Fire effect on plant
Marsh helleborines may survive low-severity fires outside the growing season as rhizomes.
Key traits
The marsh helleborine multiplies both by vegetative propagation and sexual reproduction. Vegetative propagation involves the production of regularly branched rhizomes underground (Jacquemyn et al, 2014). It requires high light availability, and is found mainly in full sunlight and rarely under shade.
High quantities of seed are dispersed by the wind, achieving considerable dispersal distances (10–500m; Lososová et al, 2023). Orchid seeds can persist in the seedbank for many years (5-10 years).
Plant response to fire
The marsh helleborine shows increased abundance after fire (Jacquemyn et al, 2014; Kluza-Wieloch & Maciejewska-Rutkowska, 2015; Wójcik et al, 2022). It is not clear from the literature that post-fire regeneration is via resprouting from belowground structures and/or from a soil-stored seedbank.
Disturbance, like fire, grazing or trampling, that preserves an open canopy are therefore important for the maintenance of suitable habitat and the persistence of marsh helleborine populations (Jacquemyn et al, 2014). However, fire during the growing season would likely negatively impact marsh helleborine populations, as in other seasonally-dormant orchids (Quarmby, 1999).
Timing of life history
Perennial species. Seeds can be produced from 2-6 years depending upon the site productivity. Flowering June to August.
Conservation status
None.
References
Kluza-Wieloch M., Maciejewska-Rutkowska I. (2015) Population of Epipactis palustris (L.) Crantz (orchidaceae) in south-western part of Poznań. Steciana, 19, 231-238. [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Lososová Z., Axmanová I., Chytrý M., Midolo G., Abdulhak S., Karger D.N., Renaud J., Van Es J., Vittoz P. & Thuiller W. 2023. Seed dispersal distance classes and dispersal modes for the European flora. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 32(9), 1485–1494 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Jacquemyn, H., Brys, R. and Hutchings, M.J. (2014), Biological Flora of the British Isles: Epipactis palustris. J Ecol, 102: 1341-1355.[Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Quarmby JP. 1999. Recovery plan for twelve threatened orchids in the Lofty Block region of South Australia 2010.South Australia: Department of Environment and Natural Resources. [Expert opinion; grey literature]
Wójcik T., Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt K., Makuch-Pietraś I. (2022) The effect of accidental burning on habitat conditions and species composition of Molinion caeruleae meadows. Journal for Nature Conservation, 70, 126294 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]